The real reason the ‘Uptown’ project has been delayed

“The next step is really figuring out where they go. Where those contaminated soils go in a way that’s environmentally friendly,” Fleming said.

Developers are working with local and state officials to resolve those issues, but building the Arches is also being held up by the ailing economy.

“We did have two tenants who decided to hold off a little bit due to the economy,” Fleming said.

I have a funny feeling this is more about the economy and not the contaminants. I think the development group used that as an excuse to hold off buying the land. I can guarantee, if they had enough tenants interested in the property, they would have bought and cleaned up that land a long time ago. As I reported a few months back, business development value is half of what it was last year. Contaminated dirt, yeah right. And the city taxpayers are left holding the bag, once again.

8 comments ↓

Is there really any bag to hold here Lewis? Seems to me the land looks pretty good just bare and full of grass. I’m not so sure the taxpayer is better off with it staying wide open for summer events instead of letting it be developed into condos and kitschy retail shops that nobody really wants to shop in.

However, this goes to show that people aren’t nearly as interested as working, shopping, and living downtown as DTSF and our mayor would like us to believe. Just look at the condos that have been built in the old furniture building… they have been sitting mostly empty for something like 18 months.

I think it should be developed, but I don’t think the Uptown vision is the right one. I have suggested that they build it like a boardwalk with only 2 and 3 story storefronts and more sidewalk space and open seating areas. I just don’t think the gigantic glass condo is the right approach.

Just look at the condos that have been built in the old furniture building… they have been sitting mostly empty for something like 18 months.

Mostly because nobody wants to pay that much for a condo that size. If I was a single yuppie with some money to spend, that’s where I’d live. But with a wife and a kid on the way, I’ll take my single family house in the southeast side of town.

The real reason it hasn’t picked up is that no one young enought to be interestd in them has enough money left over from their $12/hour paycheck to afford them. It’s cheaper to live at Stoner’s Landing or one of those massive apartment complexes on the SW side of town.